Two Comments:

1.  Great for her.

2.  with the 44xx and 45xx buses going, we need more diversity in the bus fleet.  On the long and short sides of the equation.

I bet she hasn’t cracked more then those raggedy buses on the 102...

Give out some "Breaking the Passengers Back" awards to these buses.

We got the same NeoPods on the 108.  But the seats on the new New Flyer hybrids are MUCH worse!

Yes, Mr. Mazoch

I test rode one on route 88 last month. Now the suspension is better but for a "hybrid" the bus is a bit noisy. But those "vandal proof" seats need to go.

Has METRO ever considered Gillig??? Now those are some nice buses and would be perfect for local routes. First Transit uses the lowfloor models at the airport for the rental car shuttle. Those buses are a bit more expensive then New Flyers, but would be great.

But I agree... METRO is VERY diverse.

I noticed FT uses an "odd" sort of bus for the CO airlines shuttle.  The front is a Ford F350, and the back is a 20ish passenger compartment.  I've also seen these on Istand Transit in Galveston.  A shorter version of this would be good for very local routes like the 64.  Or, you could put P&R seats in them, and run some of the off peak routes with them.

Gillig?  Never heard of them.  Sounds like a possibility.  Uses engines like others of the fleet.  Need to articulate to a larger bus.  But I can't see why METRO could not take one from

airport Service, or "trade" one for another for a while?

Dominic,

       YOU haven't heard of Gillig?  Anyhoo, that can be another bus manufacturer that can give us hybrids---in regards ot having a more diverse fleet.  Just a thought.

C,

 We're not the only TA that has those seats that y'all don't like so it wouldn't be fair for METRO to get New Flyer (mind y'all) to change our seats and not for other TAs---if their passengers are having the same kinds of problems.  Sure---I'll admit---not 100% comfortable but I can't keep complaining to the point in which I'll just not sit on it.  I'll just tough it out and enjoy the ride on those buses---my favorite ones for the local buses.

All in all, the request for the seats to be changed should NOT be made just to METRO but also to NEW FLYER!  ;-)

"ot"

....to....

Anyhoo, here's a list of the people who can give us hybrid buses:

1.  New Flyer.  That's an easy one.

2.  NABI.

3.  MCI.  We're the launch customer of such a 45' model.  The 40' hybrid MCI model title still goes to New Jersey Transit.  They only have four and IIRC, they're still in service today.

4.  Gillig.  YES, Gillig CAN and WILL give people hybrid buses---if those are willing to ask for any.

5.  NovaBus.  How many people heard of this bus manufacturer?  They can also give you hybrid buses but only as a 40' model.  They just recently produced that "A" bus but I don't know if they'll be "competitive" in giving people a hybrid version of the "A" bus.

There's "my" way for METRO of having a more diverse FLEET.

Drove a Gillig..

Seems kind of cheap/cheesy best to stay with the New Flunkers.

wi11ie